§ Mr. Matthew BanksTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will bring forward proposals to amend the Bills of Exchange Act 1882 to allow(a) the electronic presentation of cheques, (b) dishonour of cheques by electronic means and (c) authenticated copies of cheques to be valid as receipts, in accordance with the recommendations of the Jack report. [10409]
§ Mrs Angela KnightI am pleased to announce the publication today of a consultation document setting out proposals on these issues. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the Government intend to bring forward an order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, to give effect to the proposed changes. Copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.